Former WWE Star FKA Mordecai Details Intense Meeting with vince McMahon, Character Origins
Former WWE performer Matt Fertig, known as FKA Mordecai, recently recounted a memorable and intimidating meeting with Vince McMahon during his brief tenure with the company. Speaking on the “Talk’N Shop Podcast,” Fertig described McMahon’s intense stare as feeling like a challenge, stating, “I was like: I am not going to unlock eyes with this soulless devil!”
Fertig’s recollections offer a rare glimpse into the creative process and atmosphere within WWE during the early 2000s, a period marked by McMahon’s strong control and distinctive character-building methods. The story resonates with wrestling fans interested in behind-the-scenes accounts of the industry and the personalities who shaped it. His experience highlights the pressures faced by performers navigating the demands of a larger-than-life figure like mcmahon and the frequently enough-unpredictable nature of a WWE career.
The meeting, which also included John Laurinaitis and Stephanie McMahon, occurred while Fertig was being assessed for his role as mordecai, a character intended to punish the “sins” of other wrestlers and ultimately worship McMahon himself. Fertig noted the strict dress code enforced at the time and the palpable tension during the encounter. He admitted to feeling unsure whether he was being considered for a significant push or facing potential dismissal.
According to Fertig, mcmahon personally conceived the idea for Mordecai’s bleached-blonde appearance and became invested in the character’s growth. However, the character’s momentum was abruptly halted following a match with Bob “Hardcore” Holly. Fertig believes Holly’s performance inadvertently diminished the mystique surrounding mordecai, though he acknowledges his own inexperience at the time.
“I think Bob kind of changed the mood a little bit,” Fertig explained, adding that he and Holly are now friends.”But I feel in that match, Bob was out for bob.” Despite the short-lived run, Fertig maintained that WWE was fully committed to the Mordecai character up until that point.
Transcription credit: Wrestling Inc.
